Clutch



v. BENDIX.

CLUTCH. APPLJCATION FILED DEC. s. 1919,

Patented Aug: 8, 1922.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

fraz/672%?" V. BENDIX.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. |919.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

// hwy VINCENT BENDIX, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENDIX ENGNEERIN'G WORKS, INC., OF CHGAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 8, 1922..

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, VINCENT BENDIX, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to clutches, and:

more particularly to a clutch adapted for use in connection with the power transmission of an automobile.

The object of the invention resides primarily in the provision of means for bringingthe friction grip elements of the clutch into frictional engagement, consisting of parts having tapered or beveled contact surfaces sliding one upon another, and acting to impart movement from one part to another in a manner to exert great pressure against the clutching elements through the wedging action of the parts. A further object resides in the provision of a friction clutch which is of simple structure, positive in operation, and in which the parts operating to bring the clutching elements into frictional engagement have a relatively wide range of effective movement, whereby the extent of such movement will be sufficient to compensate for considerable wear of said elements before adjustment becomes necessary.

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichtl Figure 1 is an end elevation of a clutch embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the means for bringing the clutching elements into operative engagement.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the clutch adiusting means.

igure 5 is a view in elevation of the locking means for the clutch adjusting means.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the .line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Theimproved clutch is preferably shown as applied to the fly-wheel of an automobile engine, the reference numeral 7 designatin such fly-wheel, which is preferably formed with a wide annular flange 8, to provide ample space within the same to house the clutch parts, an end plate 9 suitable bolted to the flange, as at 10, in partforming -a closure to complete the housing, and also serving as a support or mounting for the clutch adjusting means, as will presently appear.

Suitably journaled in the fly-wheel, as at 11, is one end of a driven shaft 12, which is adapted to be held against rotation independent of the fly-wheel through intermediar-y friction grip elements. Cnc of said elements consists of a disk 13, provided with a hub 14 suitably splined to the shaft 12 to permit the same to shift longitudinally of said shaft, but held against rotation independent thereof. lnterposed between the marginal edge of the disk 13 and the inner face of the fly-wheel is a friction ring 15, which may be of broid or any other suitable material, and adapted to bear against the opposite face of the disk is a like friction ring 16. It will be apparent that, upon the application of sufficient pressure against the friction ring 16, the disk 13 will be frictionally held and caused to rotate with the fly-wheel, and through the said` disk the shaft 12 will be caused to rotate in unison with the fly-wheel, all as in the manner well understood in the art.

Adapted to bear against the friction ring 16 is a thrust ring 17, having a peripheral transverse slot or groove 18, into which extends the head end of a bolt l19 threaded into the fly-wheel flange, as in the manner shown, whereby the thrust ring is held against rotation independently ofthe fly-wheel, but free to shift toward and from the disk 13. Slidably supported, as by a bracket 20, for endwise movement radially of the axis of the clutch, is la bar 21, carrying a cross head 22 on its outer end provided with a beveled end 23 adapted for sliding contact with a simi- .larly beveled portion 24 on the thrust ring 17, whereby-outward movement of the cross.

head will act to move the thrust ring in the direction of and bring the clutching elements into frictional engagement. Conversely, an inward movement of Vthe cross head, when free to act, will release the pressure on the lea clutching elements and ermit the ly-wheel to rotate without imparting a like movement to the shaft 12. The cross head 22 is provided with a recess 25 for the reception of the end of the bar 21', and which latter is providedjwith a ledge 26 upon whichthe cross head bears and is slidable endwise thereon for adjustment with relation to the bar 21. The outer end 27 of the cross head is adapted to have a sliding engagement with a normally fixed member, hereinafter referred to as a screw-plug 28, which serves to hold the cross head in proper position to effect a' wedging action against the thrust ring 17 inV the cuter movement thereof, and a spring 29 bearing upon the cross head causes the same to follow its supporting bar 21 in the retraction of the latter. As the clutching elementsv become worn thin, adjustment of the cross head with relation to said elements becomes necessary after a time, and this is accomplished by screwing the screw-plug 28 in wardly of the clutch to shift the cross head to an eHective operative position with relation to said elements. Such adjustment, however, will not be frequently required, ow.- ing to the actuating parts for the clutchin elements having a considerable range of e fective movement, as will be obvious. Mounted. upon the shaft 12 for endwise movement thereon is a sleeve 30, carrying a cone faced member 31, upon which the inner beveled end of the bar 21 rests, a helical spring 32, interposed between said cone member and the end plate 9, being tensioned to exert great pressure against theV cone member, which in turn imparts endwise movement and pressure to the bar 21, which through its cross head causes the clutching elements to be held in frictional engagement,

and the dy-wheel and shaft 12 to be rotated in unison. An outward shifting of the sleeve 30 will allow an' inward movement of the bar 21 and its cross head, and release the clutching elements from frictional engagement. In actual practice a foot lever may be employed for shifting the sleeve 30, such not being shown, as any suitable means may be emplgyed for the purpose.

hile the drawings disclose but a single bar 21 and cross head 22 for the purposes above described, in actual practice three such are preferably used, same being positioned in equal degrees of angle from each other, corresponding with the like disposition of the screw-plugs 28, as indicated in F ig. 1. Said screw plugs are threaded through the end plate 9," and, as before noted, serve as an adjustable abutment for the cross heads 22, and thus constitute clutch adjusting means. The screw-plugs are formed on their outer ends with a pinion 33, and rotatively mounted on an annular shoultei` 34 on the with each of said pinions, and by the ma- Laaaseo nipulation of which ring ear the screwplugs may be uniformly an simultaneously turned for the endwise adjustment thereof. Secured to the end plate 9, as by means of rivets 36, are snap springs 37, which extend across the ring gear and serve to hold the same to place, and which springs are formed inwardly of their free ends with a rounded projection or bead 38 'adapted to ride over the teeth of the ring gear in the movement thereof, and to lodge between the gear teeth to automatically lock the ring gear against accidental movement.

While the foregoing is the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described, as it is obvious that the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus describedmy invention, what is claimed is 1. A clutch comprising cooperating friction clutchin members, and pressure means including radlally endwise shiftable elements carrying transversely shiftable cross heads having an angular surface slidably engaging angular surfaces on one of said members for imparting thrust to said member to effect a clutchinglengagement between said members.

2. A clutch comprising cooperating friction clutching members, radially endwise shiftable elements carrying transversely shiftable cross heads having an'angular surface in slidin contact with angular surfaces on one of'sai members for imparting thrust movement to the latter, and a shiftable bevel faced member having sliding' contact with the inner ends of said elements for shifting the same.

3. A clutch comprising cooperating friction clutching members, radially endwise shiftable elements carrying transversely shiftable cross heads having an angular surfaced member having sliding contact with the inner ends of said elements for shifting the same, and means for retracting said member and elements to release the clutching members..-

4f. A clutch comprising cooperating friction clutching members, radially endwise shiftable elements carrying transversely shiftable cross heads having an angular surface in sliding contact with angular surfaces on one of said members for imparting thrust movement to the later, a spring pressed bevel faced member having sliding contact with the inner vends of said elements for shifting the same, and a spring bearing against the outer end of each element adapted to retract the same upon retraction of the bevel faced member.

5.V A clutch comprising cooperating friction clutching members, radially endwise for slidably supporting the cross heads against endwise movement When acting' to force the clutching members into operative l0 relation.

In testimony Whereofl aix my signature.V

VINCENT BENDIX. 

